Celebrating Youth

The First India Today Mind Rocks Youth Summit, Bhopal featured the who’s who of India’s cultural, political and business worlds, taking time out to inspire, encourage and exhort the attendees to dream big and make those dreams a reality

- Rahul Noronha, with Jaiti Datta

DREAM BIG AND FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS, give back to society, never stop learning and never stop questioning—this was some of the advice offered at the 13th edition of the India Today Mind Rocks Youth Summit, held on September 8 at Bhopal. Speakers included the who’s who of the political, art, business and sports worlds, including Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, actors Abhishek Bachchan and Bhumi Pednekar, director of Lipstick Under My Burkha Alankrita Shrivastava and cricketer-turned-MP Mohammad Azharuddin.

The event was inaugurated by India Today Group Editorial Director Raj Chengappa, who encouraged the audience not to impose limits on what they wished to achieve. “The Internet is a great equaliser,” he said, “and the same information is available to everyone. A glorious future awaits you.”

The sessions at the summit included those on sports, politics and public service, among others. Speaking about India’s focus on the youth, chief minister Chouhan detailed some of the measures his government has taken to encourage entrepreneurship, such as startup loans. He exhorted them not to forget their responsibility to society and to get involved in community service. “Don’t become a job seeker,” he said. “Become a job provider.” The CM also spoke about his son Kartikeya, who has set up a flower shop in Bhopal. “Some people told me a CM’s son should start something big,” he said. “I told them there is no such thing as a small or big beginning.”